Caps Host Columbus With New Look

Posted on October 19, 2013
by Mike Vogel

Washington will close out a five-game homestand tonight
against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are finishing up a three-game road trip.
The Caps are 1-3 on the homestand to date while the Jackets have lost each of
the first two games on the trip and three straight overall.

After keeping his top nine forwards intact for the first
seven games, Caps coach Adam Oates shook up the lines a bit at Friday’s
practice. For tonight’s game against Columbus, here’s how the Capitals will
line up:

Johansson-Backstrom-Ovechkin

Erat-Laich-Brouwer

Chimera-Grabovski-Ward

Volpatti-Fehr-Wilson

Green-Schmidt

Alzner-Carlson

Urbom-Oleksy

Braden Holtby will start in net for Washington and
defenseman John Erskine and center Jay Beagle will sit this one out.

Holtby has posted more than respectable numbers in his last
four starts – a 2.31 GAA and a .927 save pct. – but is just 1-3 in those four
outings.

Volpatti will be in the lineup for the first time this
season. The 28-year-old left wing appeared in 17 games with Washington last
season after he was claimed off waivers from Vancouver on Feb. 28.

“It’s never easy, personally,” says Volpatti of sitting out
the first seven games. “You’ve got to stay positive; I think it’s a big part of
it. And you wait patiently and take advantage of my opportunity tonight.”

Usually when he got back into the lineup after a short
absence last season, Volpatti would at least be playing with familiar
linemates. He won’t have that luxury this time around. The trio of Volpatti,
Fehr and Wilson has had one practice and one morning skate to get used to
playing with one another.

“It’ll be interesting,” says Volpatti. “I guess I can’t
really say. Last year, we were pretty set on the same lines. I’m looking forward
to it. I played with Willie a little bit in exhibitions, so I kind of know what
he brings. And Fehrsie, I know what he brings. You know what they bring, you
just don’t always know where they’re going to be. We’ll play within the
structure and try and feed off each other and create chances.”

Long homestands haven’t exactly been beneficial to the Caps
over the last few seasons. The current homestand is the fourth of at least five
games in length since the start of the 2008-09 season. Washington is 9-8-2 in
the games on those four homestands.

After Saturday’s Metropolitan Division match-up against
Columbus, the Capitals will play their next five games on the road. Washington
departs for Winnipeg on Monday afternoon.